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“The buttercups, bright-eyed and bold, 
Held up their chalices of gold 
To catch the sunshine and the dew.” 
—Julia C. R. Dorr. 
The Love of Gold and Riches. 
Wordly treasures are cherished well, 
There’s avarice of gems and gold, 
Strong bolts to iron boxes tell 
The riches that their alcoves hold. 
From earthly wealth the mind and heart 
Are uninclined, forsooth, to part; 
The poor desire alluring gain , 
The rich desire to rich remain. 
' — W. T. McClure. 
Hp HE love of gold threatens to drive everything before it. The pursuit 
of money has become the settled custom of the country. Many are 
so absorbed by it that every other kind of well-being is either lost sight 
of, or altogether undervalued. And then the inveterate lovers of money 
and riches think to recover their moral tone by bestowing charity! Moun¬ 
tains of gold weigh heavily upon the heart and soul. The man who can 
withstand the weight of riches, and still be diligent, industrious, and 
strong in mind and heart, must be made of strong stuff; for people who are 
rich are almost invariably disposed to be idle, luxurious, and self-indul¬ 
gent. 
Ho wonder, therefore, that Christ one day, said to His disciples: . 
“How hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God!”' 
The disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus again an¬ 
swering, said to them: “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in 
riches, to enter into the kingdom of God! 
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than, 
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”* 
True, Christ did not mean to speak thus of all the rich. 
*St. Mark x : 23-26. 
